LUCKNOW: Mrida, a social business initiative of multinational auto manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra, on Friday rolled out a host of services in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district under its MPowered Village programme, an official said.

Under this, an E-Hub was inaugurated, E-Rickshaws were handed over, soil health cards distributed and health camps organised in Khabharabhar village in the district.

Earlier, through Mrida, rural development initiatives were launched across 11 villages in the district. In the first phase, the villages were electrified with solar grids while in the second phase, using energy access as the base, other initiatives were launched.

Under the Mahindra MPowered Village initiative programme taken up last year, 11 off-grid villages were lit up using solar micro grids.

"Lighting up of these villages is but the first step in this unique developmental initiative, which focuses on providing avenues for livelihood generation, skill training and economic enhancement leading to social change.

"Since these are rural communities, the focus is also on agri-interventions and providing inputs to ensure that optimal benefits can be derived from the parcel of land that the farmer cultivates," an official said.

The programmes launched on Friday form part of the livelihood generation phase of the M&M initiative, the official said.

Arun Nagpal -- Co-founder and director, Mrida Group, said that "even small interventions can lead to major changes and we are advocating the concept of 'Think Small' and 'Be a Transformer'".